In case you haven’t heard, the iSchool is taking 50 students to NYC on February 16 and 17 to Yankee’s Stadium, FOX News, Metlife Stadium, MLB.com, and CBS Sports. The iSchool strives to drive and push students to their fullest potential by providing opportunities like these, so take advantage of them if you can!
Why Quiet Reflection Is Hard (Or: Have Devices Rewired My Brain?)
January 26, 2012
Most of us have trouble sitting alone, quietly, doing nothing. We have the need to do something, to check our inboxes and social media, to be productive. Sitting still can be difficult if you haven’t cultivated the habit.
The Tech Garden Pays Homage to Steve Jobs with Art Exhibit
January 25, 2012
“Do you want to spend the rest of your life selling sugared water or do you want a chance to change the world?” – Steve Jobs to John Sculley Many students find themselves faced with the challenge posed by the above question. The ones here at Syracuse University who reach down deep and set out [...]
Syracuse Little Free Libraries: Book Drive and Launch Date
January 24, 2012
As we head towards the launch of our first SYR-LFL in a few weeks, we wanted to take a moment to share some news about our recently launched website, book donations, and book drop offs, as well as our launch date.
How to Write an Effective Blog Post
January 23, 2012
Since I began using blogging as part of my courses and professional practice, I’ve learned that asking someone to “blog” can be a vague request. Even though we’ve all seen and read many blogs, it can still be difficult at times to explain the characteristics of a blog post, or what kind of information it might include. In an effort to better communicate the best practices I’ve observed, I’ve put together these recommendations to share with my students and clients. Perhaps they will be valuable to other aspiring bloggers as well.
Bloggers for Information Space: Geeks Wanted
January 20, 2012
It takes a lot of coordination to run a multi-blogger platform, so we’re looking for new blood. If a great breadth of topics combined with the chance to have your voice heard by a growing audience is appealing, please consider becoming an Information Space blogger.
Five Important Factors in Your Internship Hunt
January 19, 2012
It’s time to gear up for the spring semester, and for many of us, that means finding the perfect internship. But where do you even begin? Here are five things to consider when you’re weighing internship options.
iSchool and Information Space Blackout: Stop SOPA/PIPA Wednesday 1/18
January 17, 2012
Every generation has a moment, an opportunity to make their collective mark on history- where people divide or pull together over moral, philosophical, and human rights beliefs in hopes of changing the world for the better. Across history, we have witnessed movements in which we join together in protest to shape our future. In our [...]
Path: Private Social Network with Good Interface, but Lacking in Substance
January 16, 2012Path, the latest hyped “innovation” in social networking, is a self-proclaimed smart journal that helps you share life with the ones you love. In essence a private social network that allows you to check in, share photos, music, and thoughts with no more then 150 of your closest pre-approved friends.
Amazon Kindle Fire Review: Should You Buy One?
January 13, 2012
Amazon’s Kindle Fire launched on November 15th, aiming to compete directly with Apple’s iPad. At a lower price point of $199, it can certainly compete with the iPad in terms of cost. But, is the Kindle Fire strong enough to put a damper on Apple’s success in the tablet market?
iPhone or Transformer? There is an App for Everything
January 12, 2012I keep hearing people say “There’s an app for everything”. As a new iPhone owner, I set out to explore the validity of this statement. I began my journey by browsing thousands of apps. While I did come across a plethora of bizarre applications, I was most impressed when I realized all the things my little phone could become. I knew I was in possession of a communication device, but I was not aware that it could also be a cowbell, a bacon clock, a lie detector, and a cat toy (to name a few). Clearly, I did not pay enough for this ever so versatile machine. I do not own an iPhone, I own the ultimate transformer. Here are just some of my favorite non-advertised uses for the iPhone or iPad.
WERW Wednesday: Is Soundtracking the Next Big Music App?
January 11, 2012
It’s hard to get ahead in the realm of music apps. People will find a one way to listen to music on their devices and that will be that. However, there’s one app that adds another layer to listening to the music that you enjoy, and that app is Soundtracking. The app already has 1 million users, but I foresee it becoming a lot more popular in 2012.
Entrepreneurship in the United Kingdom: An Interview with Paul Redford
January 10, 2012
A few days ago, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Paul Redford, the co-founder and chair of computerplanet.co.uk, a high-end PC manufacturer. They claim to provide the highest level of customization available for PC shoppers in the United Kingdom. He spent some time explaining to me what the environment is like for startups in the U.K
LFL on Gifford: Location Selected for the First Little Free Library
January 9, 2012In Fall 2011, the Little Free Libraries Project launched as a collaboration between residents of the near Westside of Syracuse, the iSchool, the College of Visual and Performing Arts, and the Office of Community Engagement and Economic Development. Since then, our team has grown and the vision for what a Little Free Library can be in Syracuse has evolved.
Apple TV: Rumor Roundup and Why I Won’t Be Buying One
January 5, 2012Rumors have been circulating lately about the pending introduction of the Apple TV (not to be confused with the actual current product, AppleTV). Apple has been amazingly disruptive in digital media – just look at the iPod! But, I don’t think that strategy is going to work with television.
One Librarian’s Resolution for 2012: Battle the Stereotypes
January 4, 2012WHEREAS, Librarianship is a changing field, and;
WHEREAS, too many people inside the profession seem content to rest on old habits, and;
WHEREAS, too few people outside the profession know what lies on the cutting edge;
BE IT RESOLVED, that I, Christopher Daniel Warren Lawton, refuse to be pigeonholed, and further resolve to spend 2012 combating the stereotypes of librarians wherever I encounter them.
Boeing Takes Technology To New Heights With Dreamliner
January 3, 2012
Air travel has become such a norm for us that we often fail to appreciate how much technology really goes into making it happen. Sure, recent news has been quick to highlight what kind of gadgets are making their way into the cockpit and in-flight wireless is becoming pretty standard. What is often overlooked is the technology required to make those aircraft fly in the first place.
Roundup of Roundups: What to Read at the End of 2011
January 2, 2012
It’s that time again: year-end roundup time. Across the blogosphere, 2011 retrospectives are being posted, and the internet is rife with articles, photos, and graphics that help us look back at 2011 and all its protestor/tsunami/DSK/debt-downgraded/Bin Laden/Rebecca Black/Eurozone/Apple-related stories. There’s a lot of it to wade through, and most of it isn’t that interesting.
Video Update 14 & 15: Scott Nicholson at MIT
December 30, 2011
In the beginning of December, Professor Scott Nicholson ran a game show in one of the dormitories at MIT. Students also played trivia games, built card towers, and word puzzles to win prizes. Recently, Nicholson is working on a grant proposal about an online alternate reality game called “Vanished”.
MLB.com College Challenge 2011: Hack-a-Thon Format a Homerun
December 28, 2011
Thanks to Julie Walas and Professor Jeff Rubin, I was given the opportunity to shadow what ended up becoming a tremendous night at the iSchool. When the MLB.com College Challenge rolled around again this year, both Julie and Jeff realized that a change was needed. According to Julie, “We decided that iSchool students really function best in this high stress, Hack-a-Thon environment. It really allows for creativity and innovation and real teamwork and leadership.” Thus, the Hack-a-Thon format of the event was born.
Three Awesome Databases to Browse for Fun
December 27, 2011Part of the fun for a college student on winter break is having time to explore. The databases available through the Syracuse University Library are manifold, and I’ve been having a great time poking through the ones that have nothing to do with my current degree. Part of the reason librarianship is such a great field is that it allows for multi-disciplinary learning and varied approaches to problem-solving. However, the downside to this is that the only way to be a good librarian is to know something about nearly everything. It’s the challenge, and the best part, of my vocation.
12 Startups to Watch in 2012
December 26, 2011In 2011 we saw a lot of start-ups with a lot of promise shoot up and, very unremarkably, flair out. As we look to 2012, it appears more and more entrepreneurs are taking to their computers and breaking into mobile frameworks in hopes of becoming the next big thing. Here are 12 startups to watch [...]
61 Non-Librarian Jobs for LIS Grads
December 23, 2011Note: I wrote this post in mid-December, and based it on current job openings. Some jobs may have already been filled and many postings have been taken down, so you may find some broken links. If you know of new links for these jobs or ones like them, please feel free to post them in [...]
Coffee with Dennis Crowley: 3 Lessons Every Startup Should Learn
December 22, 2011In a world where everyone is seemingly becoming more and more interconnected and accessible, the job of PR people becomes increasingly more important. Acting as a wall or barrier from the public for big name celebrities, business people, and others in the proverbial public spotlight. Often times there is a reason for these influencer’s names to be staples of our daily vocabularies, whether its their genius, their extraordinary experiences or their ability to inspire us. When our team wanted to visit the foursquare offices in NYC, we weren’t able to due to their hectic schedule… so we tweeted co-founder Dennis Crowley to grab coffee. Here’s what we learned.
10 Items Your Gear Head Wants For The Holidays (And Where to Buy Them!)
December 20, 2011
Leuchtturm 1917 Dotted Notebook ~ $12 These are in many ways better than the traditional moleskine. They come with a dotted version in addition to the grid. I can’t tell you how easy and precise it is with grid. Less costly. Downside: Heavy ink pens bleed a bit on these notebooks. Nite Ize Curvyman Cord Supervisor ~ [...]